Presbyterian Church Marks 75 Years Of Service

Payson’s first church, Community Presbyterian, begins celebrating its 75th anniversary Sunday, April 11 with a special worship service at 10:30 a.m.

The Presbytery of Southern Arizona gave Community Presbyterian its charter April 10, 1935. It had a congregation of 34 members. The receipt of the charter culminated 16 years of work and a presence in the community by the 1st Presbyterian Church of Globe with a Sunday School Outreach Mission at the Payson church’s current location at 800 W. Main St.

The April 11 service, looking back to the original manse, where the first chartering service was held, will begin eight months of celebration concluding on Nov. 21, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the first worship in the “log church,” which is still on the Main Street property.

There will be celebrations or special events each month between April and November, all of which will be announced in the Payson Roundup.

The congregation of Payson Community Presbyterian Church welcomes its friends and neighbors in the Rim Country to join them at their 75th Anniversary Chartering service at 10:30 a.m., Sunday, April 11.

Also, the April 11th edition of Jazz at Community Presbyterian Church will feature a concert with Judy Roberts, piano and vocals; Greg Fishman on sax; and Ted Sistrunk on upright bass; along with Gerry Reynolds on drums. The performers and Payson Friends of Jazz have chosen to make this event part of the church’s 75th anniversary celebration as well.